Hydrangea plant named &#39;Royalty&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea macrophylla  (Thunb.) named ‘Royalty’ originated as a controlled cross between unpatented varieties. The cultivar ‘Royalty’ can be blue or red depending on the acidity of the soil and the presence of aluminum. The variety ‘Royalty’ has relatively compact, attractive inflorescences with relatively small sepalous florets, distinct sepal pigmentation and good commercial characteristics. When grown in the presence of aluminum, the upperside of the sepals is R.H.S. 94 A (violet-blue group) to 86 B (violet group), the underside of the sepals is R.H.S. 93 D (violet-blue group to 86 C violet group).

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘Royalty’

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Royalty’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of the Saxifragaceae family. The botanical name of the plant is Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘Royalty’.

The new cultivar originated as a seedling from a controlled cross between the unpatented, commercial variety known as ‘Venedig’ which was the seed parent and the unpatented variety ‘LK49’ which was the pollen parent.

The variety ‘Royalty’ has compact, attractive inflorescences with relatively small sepalous florets, attractive sepal pigmentation and good commercial characteristics. The variety ‘Royalty’ has pigmented sepals, and is preferably grown in soil conditions treated with aluminum to produce blue pigmentation. The color of the sepals changes as the plant ages. Below is a table comparing the new variety to similar varieties.

TABLE 1 Currently Patent U.S. Plant Unpatented New Variety Pending Variety Pat. No. 18,593 Variety ‘Royalty’ ‘New Wine’ ‘True Blue’ ‘Venedig’ Leaf size 8 cm × 13.5 cm 12 cm wide × Unknown Unknown 15 cm long Plant height 14″ in 6″ pot. 15″ in 6″ pot. Unknown 12″ in 6″ pot. Stem strength Strong Stems are strong Strong Strong but benefit from being staked Sepal Upper side of Upper side of Both sides of Upper side of Pigmentation sepals is R.H.S. sepals is R.H.S. sepalsa are sepals is R.H.S. 94 A (violet - 86 A (violet R.H.S. 100 D 84 A (violet blue group) to group); Under (blue group). group). Under 86 B (violet side of sepals is side of sepals is group); Under R.H.S. 88 D R.H.S. 85 A side of sepals is (violet group) (violet group). R.H.S. 93 D (violet group) to 86 C (violet group). Floret Size 50 mm 60 mm to 70 mm 50 mm to 60 mm 70 mm

The new cultivar ‘Royalty’ has been successfully asexually reproduced under controlled environmental conditions at a nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. under the direction of the inventor with its distinguishing characteristics remaining stable.

Asexual reproduction was first accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initially selected plant. Examination of asexually reproduced, successive generations grown in Half Moon Bay, Calif. show that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘Royalty’ remains firmly fixed through three generations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show the typical plant form, including the inflorescence, foliage, and sepals.

FIG. 1 is a view of the entire plant showing its form, growth habit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and the color of its sepals.

FIG. 2 is a view of the entire plant showing its form, growth habit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and the color of its sepals.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the adaxial surface of a mature leaf.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the base of the stem.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the upperside of a panicle of the new variety.

FIG. 6 is a close-up view of the center of a panicle of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The plants shown in the figures are approximately 46 weeks old. The plant started out as cuttings, taken from the stem of a grown plant. The cuttings were placed in a pot and the soil was periodically treated with aluminum to produce blue pigmentation. The plant was pinched early to promote lateral branches.

‘Royalty’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Color determinations were made with The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

-   The plant:     -   -   Origin.—Controlled cross. The new cultivar originated as a             seedling from a controlled cross between the unpatented             variety known as ‘Venedig’ which was the seed parent and the             unpatented variety ‘LK49’ which was the pollen parent.         -   Form.—Upright, compact shrub. A typical plant with a mature             inflorescence that is ready for sale is approximately 14″             high and has a diameter of 18″ when grown in a 6″ pot with             appropriate soil amendments.         -   Growth.—Upright, vigorous growth habit. Inflorescence is             large. The plant branches easily with shoots forming at the             base of the plant. Lateral branches are similar in             appearance and form to the main stems.         -   Stems.—Lenticels are present. Lenticels are R.H.S. 86 A             (violet group) and are 1 to 2 mm long. The surface of young             stems is glabrous. Stems become woody as they age. The color             of typical young stems and young lateral branches is R.H.S.             144 A (green group). The older portions of the stems are             R.H.S. 199 A (grey-brown group) Younger portions of the             stems are 5 to 7 mm in diameter. Older portions of the stems             are 5 to 7 mm in diameter.         -   Foliage.—Abundant. Leaves are opposite on stem and lateral             branches. Shape of leaf. — Elliptic with acute base and             apex. Margins are serrate. Texture. — Glabrous; veins             dominate on the underside of the leaf and are sunken on the             leaf surface. Color. — Mature leaves have an upper side that             is R.H.S. 147 A (yellow-green group), and an under side that             is R.H.S. 138 B (green group). Leaves are pinnately veined.             The midvein and veins branching off the midvein are large             and prominent on the underside of the leaves. Veins are             R.H.S. 144 D (yellow-green group). Leaves are as wide as 8             cm and 13.5 cm long. Petioles are 2.0-2.5 cm long and 4 mm             wide. Petioles are R.H.S. 144 D (yellow-green group). -   Buds:     -   -   Form.—Globose with 4 to 5 connate, elliptic, smooth petals.             Most buds have 4 petals. Buds in the center of the             inflorescence are non-sepalous. The majority of buds have             sepals. They are approximately 1 mm by 1 mm when very young.             Buds can be 3 mm in diameter and still unopened. Color of             buds is R.H.S. 100 C (blue group).         -   Aspect.—Smooth.         -   Arrangement.—Borne on branched panicles. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Form.—Paniculate. Terminal. As many as 100 or more             individual flowers (florets) per inflorescence. Both             sepalous florets and non-sepalous florets borne on same             panicle. Flowers do not produce a fragrance. The peduncle or             panicle for the inflorescence is strong and upright. Very             few non-sepalous florets developing early on cymes that are             later hidden by sepalous florets. Florets have anthers and             style.         -   Size of inflorescence.—Compact and globose. Individual             inflorescence size is dependent on the number of florets. A             typical inflorescence can grow as large as 6″ in diameter,             and 4″ high.         -   Shape.—Clusters of numerous small florets; sepalous florets             overlap one another. Sepals are persistent.         -   Appearance.—Showy. -   Florets:     -   -   General.—The non-sepalous florets at the center of the             inflorescence open first. Sepalous florets are perfect and             complete. Corolla: Generally there are 4 petals which fall             off as flower matures. Petals are typically 4 mm long and 3             mm wide. Pedicel length for non-sepalous florets averages             4 mm. Pedicel length of sepalous florets is approximately 20             mm in length for plants of this age. Pedicels continue to             elongate as the inflorescence ages. Pedicel is 97 A             (violet-blue group) to 95 C (violet-purple group).         -   Stamens.—8 stamens. Pollen is R.H.S. 158 C (yellow-white             group). Plant produces abundant pollen. Filament is             approximately 3 mm long. Filament is R.H.S. 155 C (white             group). Anther is 1 mm long and is regular and basally             attached.         -   Stigma.—Two to three style each, although most florets have             two style. Each style has one stigma. Style is typically 1             mm long. Style is R.H.S. 155 D (white group). Stigma is             R.H.S. 155 D (white group).         -   Ovary.—Ovary is partially inferior.         -   Sepalous florets.—General. — Veins dominate on the underside             of the sepals. Number of sepals. — 4 or 5 sepals per floret,             usually 4. Aspect of sepals. — Smooth and glaucescent. Shape             of sepals. — Reniform with acuminate apex. Edges are entire,             but with some crenation. Size of sepals. — As the florets             mature, the sepals enlarge and overlap each other more and             more, until, often, there is no space between the sepals             when the petals of the florets open. Sepals at maturity are             typically 3.0 cm long and 4.0 cm wide. Flowers are typically             5 cm in diameter. The upper sides of the sepals are R.H.S.             94 A (violet-blue group) to 86 B (violet group) and the             under sides are R.H.S. 93 D (violet-blue group) to R.H.S. 86             C (violet group). Pigmentation develops at the tips of the             sepals and travels inward towards base of the sepals.         -   Fruit.—none. 

1. A new and distinct Hydrangea macrophylla plant named ‘Royalty’ substantially as herein shown and described. 